Thread clearer



19, E. c. PLOENSE THREAD CLEARER Filed Dec. 18, 1923 gnoenfw a! [amPatented Aug. 19, 1924.

nMIn c. PLOENSE, or BLOOMINGTQLLILLINQIS. 1

Fl-Hanan cnnAnnn.

Application filedpecember 18, 1923. Serial No.'681,374i

To all whom it may concern. 1

Be it known that I, EMIL C. PLOENSE, citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread Clearers, ofwhich the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in threadclearing implements and has particular reference to a device adapted foruse in removing cuttings from threads of the threaded wall of an openingwhich has been duly'tapped.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a thread clearingimplement of the above kind which embraces the desired qualities ofsimplicity and durability of con- I struction, as well as efliciency inoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thread clearer which maybe cheaply and easily manufactured and placed into use, and wherein thestructure is such that the device may not readily become damaged orbroken.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thread clearer of theabove kind which may be readily adjusted to engage the threads in thewalls of different sized openings.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown, and wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in longitudinal section ofa thread clearer constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially upon theline 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 drawn on a larger scale andillustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing,

the invention comprises a metallic body 5, from one end of whichprojects 'a plurality outwardly diverging relation as shown andhavelaterally directed free end portions '7,

the extremeends of which are'formed or pointed, asat 8, toffit'in ore-ngage'the .walls of the thread to be cleared. The form of implementshown is adapted for clearing internal threads, and the end portions? ofthe legs 6 are therefore outturned as clearly illustratedin Figure 1.The body 5 is pro vided withany suitable means for facilitating turningor rotation thereof, and this means is shown as comprising a pair 10flateraloppositely positioned handles orhand from thesides thereof. ,7

Means is'provided for expanding the legs 6 or permitting contractionthereof so'that the device may be accommodatedto threads of differentsized openings orthe like. In the form of the *invention'shown, thismeans comprises cam lugs 10 provided OILtllfi-ZRCL. jacent sides of thelegs 6 at the inner ends of the latter, and an adjustin screw 11 that isthreaded through the body 5 axially of. the latter and that is providedwith a tapered inner end as at 12 engaging the outwardly convergingedges of the cam lugs 10. It will be seen that when the set screw 11' isthreaded inwardly, the inner end thereof will engage the cams 10, so asto expand the legs 6 which are preferably normally contracted.

The body 5 is shown herein, as an integral member having the legsGintegral therewith, and in order to permit the ready expansion orseparation of the legs 6, the outerend portion of the body 5 is providedw1th longitudinal slots 18 corresponding in number to the number of legs6 employed and pos1- tioned in planes substantially midway between theplanes of said legs 6. The inner end portion of the body 5 is unslotted,so as to provide for the connection of the leg carrying parts and permittheir relative angular displacement during the expansion and contractionof the legs. I

' Also, the bore of the outer end portion of the body 5 is slightlylarger than the diameter of the stem of the adjusting screw 11, so that;the members 14 and 15 of said body that areformed by providing the slots13 may have slight relative movement when the legs 6 areadjusted, thestem of the screw 11 having threaded engagementwith the 1mslotted innerend portion of the body 5 as I 'rips 9 rigid with the body'5, andextending clearly shown in Figure 1, at- 16. The screw 11 may beprovided with any means for facilitating its operation, such as apolygonal head 17 adapted for engagement by a wrench or the like.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the implement isdisclosed as comprising a pair of the legs 6 disposed in opposedrelation, but :as-shown in Figure 3, the'number of legs may beincreased. In the latter figure, the construction is exactly the same asin Figures and 2, except that three of the legs are provided as at 6 andthreeof the slots are provided as at 13 in the body-,5". Otherwise, theconstruction in the formof the invention shownin Figure 3 willcorrespond to that shown in Figures In. operation, the screw, 11 isretracted, so as to allow contraction of the legs 6, sufliciently topermit insertion of the latter within the threaded opening. The screw 11is then adjusted inwardly to expand thelegs 6 for engaging the pointedends 8 thereof in opposite portions of the thread to be cleared. Thehandles 9 are then grasped for imparting a rotary motion to theimplement, and, as the points of the legs 6 will follow the thread,cuttings will be effectively cleared therefrom} To facilitate theremoval of the implement from the hole, it is simply necessary to threadthe screw 11 outwardly for permitting contraction of the legs 6 anddisengagement of the ends 8 thereof from the thread.

From the foregoingdescription, it is be lieved that the construction andoperation as well as the advantages of the present invention will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without de parting from the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed; I

hat- I claim as new is: I i

In a thread clearer of the character described, a body provided'with aplurality of legs that project from one end thereof, said legs havinglaterally directed free ends formed to fit and engage within the threadsto be cleared, means carried by said body for facilitating applicationof rotary motion thereto, .an adjusting screwthreaded axially throughthe body and having its inner end projecting betweenthe inner ends ofthe legs, and. cam lugs uponthe adjacent sides of the inner end portionsof said legs engageable by the inner end of said adjusting screw forcxpanding the legs. v

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

EMIL C. PLOENSE. v

